Key points
In week 41, the incidence rate stabilised at national level and in the majority of metropolitan regions but continued to increase among the elderly.
- Metropolitan France:
- Stabilisation of incidence rate at a high level
- Incidence and positivity rates still rising in 70+ age group
- Increase in new intensive care admissions
- Further rise in number of deaths
- Overseas France:
- Incidence rate falling or stable at low levels in all territories
Variants
- Omicron sub-lineages: BA.5 omnipresent, accounting for 93% of sequences in the week 40 Flash Survey (3 October)
- Among the BA.5 sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 is increasing (16% vs 7% in the week 39 Flash Survey)
Prevention
- Vaccination on 17 October 2022 (Vaccin Covid data):
- 74.5% of the population aged 18+ and 82.5% of the 65+ age group had received a first booster dose
- 31.3% of 60-79 year-olds (representing 37.0% of those who are eligible given the time since their last injection) and 38.3% of people aged 80+ (50.1% of those who are eligible) had received a second booster dose
- Given the intense circulation of SARS-CoV-2, compliance with the combined measures remains crucial:
- up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2) for individuals already vaccinated with a primary course eligible for a first or second booster;
- self-isolation in case of a positive test for COVID-19 and/or symptoms;
- continued application of precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask, particularly around vulnerable people and in enclosed spaces favourable to transmission (public transport, large gatherings, etc.), frequent hand washing and ventilation of interiors.
